Ben Sira 40:29

29 If you have to depend on someone else for your food, you are not really living your own life. You pollute yourself by accepting food from another. Begging is torture to the soul of any sensitive person.

Ben Sira 40:29 In-Context

27 The fear of the Lord is like a rich garden of blessings; you could not want a more glorious shelter.

28 My child, don't live the life of a beggar; it is better to die than to beg.

29 If you have to depend on someone else for your food, you are not really living your own life. You pollute yourself by accepting food from another. Begging is torture to the soul of any sensitive person.

30 A shameless person can make begging sound sweet, but something inside him burns.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Hebrew] Begging . . . person; [Greek] An intelligent and understanding person will avoid it.